- Looking at the two days that are celebrated annually worldwide, Mother's Day is more popular and recognized than Father's Day.
‘Mother's Day' was celebrated on May 11, 2025. Most parts of the world observe this day on the second Sunday of May every year. Father’s Day, on the other hand, is celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year. This year, it will be happening on May 25. It is a day of honoring fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence fathers have in the society.
Mother's Day, on the other hand, is the day of honouring the mother of the family or individual, or motherhood or maternal bonds, as well as the influence mothers have in the society. The day is commonly celebrated in March or May, depending on the part of the world.
Looking at the two days that are celebrated annually worldwide, Mother's Day is more popular and recognized than Father's Day.
Several theories have been put across to explain these differences, as described below;
1. Marketers
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Profit and non-profit organizations usually begin their campaigns on Mother's Day far earlier than Father's Day. Therefore, because humans rely on visual reminders from retailers to prompt them into shopping action, the campaigns automatically propel us into action.
With frequent demands calling for people's attention on Mother’s Day, the same does not happen to Father’s Day. Therefore, many do not remember Father's Day as much as Mother's Day.
2. People think moms deserve thoughtful gifts
Dr. Lars Perner, a psychologist at the University of Southern California, explains that many people identify mothers as being "the biggest contributors to home life" and that they deserve more attention.
However, this is certainly not the case for every family. In some families, the fathers make greater contributions around the house than the mothers.
3. Mother’s Day was recognized first
Father's Day was not recognized as an official celebration holiday until 60 years after the first Mother’s Day. Therefore, most people are just more accustomed to celebrating Mother’s Day.
However, just because something takes a little longer to catch on does not make it less critical.
4. Fathers are less interested in gifts
This theory is also from Dr. Lars Perner. She explained that fathers are not typically gift-oriented like mothers are. His argument is that fathers generally don't expect anyone to feel obligated to buy material items for them.
Although this theory may temporarily make us feel less guilty about forgetting Father's Day, no one really does not enjoy receiving a gift from a loved one.
5. Summer retail fatigue is real
Some people argue that traditionally, the hottest retail days of the spring/summer fall in November and December, with Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and Mother’s Day following, all of which fall just before Father’s Day. Therefore, this theory assumes that people just get burnt out from all the shopping they’ve already done.
6. Quality time is all that fathers want anyway
Many assume that hanging out with Dad is better than any gift we could give. Mothers also deserve and love quality time, but we still insist on giving them a gift. If we think about it, we should spend quality time with our fathers as often as possible, not just on Father’s Day. Therefore, it’s not like fathers will not appreciate a Father’s Day gift.
7. Fathers are just hard to buy for
In a 2017 survey, 38 respondents confessed to feeling that Father's Day gifts were more "awkward” to shop for than Mother's Day gifts.
Honouring fathers is equally essential. Ephesians 6 2-3 emphasizes the need to honour both parents equally and the reward that comes with it.
